Local leaders and activists react to Trump’s coal boosting executive orders

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — Local environmental organizations react to President Donald Trump’s new executive orders, aimed to boost coal.

President Trump signed four executive orders for coal, a reportedly reliable but polluting energy source that has been in a decline. It is said orders will give Trump emergency authority to allow older coal-fired plants to keep producing electricity.

Environmental activist, Wendy Bredhold, says this move will ultimately bring higher electric bills to families across the country in her statement:

During Donald Trump’s first term, coal plants continued to close at the same rate as under the previous administration, because coal can’t compete with cheaper renewable energy and fossil gas. No power company is going to bring retired coal plants back online because of this executive order. And even if Trump manages to keep some aging coal plants running a little longer, the result will be higher electric bills for families already struggling with the economic fallout of his tariffs. These are crucial years for climate action, and Trump is already gutting basic protections for our air and water on behalf of his fossil fuel donors. That will bring more deadly heat, stronger storms, and heavier flooding – like our communities are dealing with right now. The human and economic costs are mounting. This executive order is the latest in a string of bad policies that are actively harming our country every day.
Wendy Bredhold

The Kentucky Sierra Club says Kentuckians would not only see an increase in electricity costs, but worsening health impacts as well in the following statement:

Again and again politicians fly through coal country with false promises about revitalizing industry, when what they mean is milking the last bit of profits out of Appalachia for the benefit of executives and shareholders. Standards that keep our air, water, and working conditions safe: gutted. Cheaper alternatives to producing electricity: boxed out of the market. Unions to defend good paying jobs: undermined at every turn. ‘Reviving coal’ has always been about coal executives, not coal country
Elisa Owen, Kentucky Senior Beyond Coal Campaign Organizer

In opposition, Kentucky Attorney General Russell praises President Trump’s effort to unleash “American energy” in his statement:

For generations, coal has powered Kentucky to prosperity. After enduring years of assaults on our coal workers and their families, I’m grateful to have President Trump as an ally in the White House to support our Commonwealth’s reliable and affordable energy,” said Attorney General Coleman. “Tony Campbell of East Kentucky Power Cooperative deserves a lot of credit for sounding the alarm of the growing threats to our grid’s reliability. His unwavering advocacy on behalf of Kentucky families helped make today’s announcement a reality.
Attorney General Russell Coleman